1996 16v gti mk3 - starting issues!!

[wrobstar21]

Hi all,

My 16v has been playing up a bit recently and last night decided to not start for ten minutes.

ok, u know when you start the engine the starter motor kind of chugs before it catches and the engine starts. well mine sometimes just chugs once then wines a little bit. i then have to try again and it always starts as normal.

Last night after not having driven all day, i went to start it and it just did the wine thing for ages. The oil light flashed for a bit. then after trying for ages it reluctantly engaged. it spluttered for a bit then started ok. i drove it for a bit till it warmed up and turned her off, started her again and no problems at all.

When it was running after all this there was a clicking noise coming from the engine bay, i opened it up and there is a vertical cylinder thing at the upper end of the inside of the wing on the driver side. It has a pipe coming from the throttle body and another at the bottom, sorry i dont know what it is called yet. Anyway this thing was clicking so i flicked it and the clicking stopped!

Seems to be running lumpy a bit more recently too

Any thoughts on my ramblings??

Rob

[Deano2711]

The cylinder part you are describing is the Charcoal Filter Valve and could make the car rin lumpy but would not stop the car from starting. Try disconnecting the plug and running the car to see if it's any better. You can run the car short term with it disconnected while you find one from a breakers/scrappy. The starting issue sounds like a dodgy earth to me but your best bet is to get the car on VagCom to check for fault codes.    Hope this helps     Cheers

[rubjonny]

sounds like you need a new starter. next time it happens put it in 3rd and rock the car back n forth a bit, then try again

[big_G_622]

+1 what johnny said

The 'whining' noise normally inicates the teeth have worn away - so the problem will only get worse.

if your luck they may not be engaging properly so rocking sometimes help knock them back in place.

If i were you i'd prob check the bolts as well just incase they have worked loose 

[wrobstar21]

my rear gearbox mount is fooked too, would this maybe mess the positioning up as the engine rocks when u start it?

do you mean the mounting bolts?